EMR EHR Software: What’s the Difference and Does It Really Matter?

You may encounter the terms electronic medical record (EMR) and electronic health record (EHR) being used interchangeably. While there are many similarities between the two, EMR and EHR software are two different products. Understanding the differences between the two can help you not only run your chiropractic clinic more efficiently, but also select the software that will let you enjoy enhanced revenues, save time, and reduce rejected and denied claims.

Another great benefit to being conversant in EHR and EMR software differences is that you can specifically look for a software solution that is certified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). With a certified EMR, for example, you qualify for Medicare’s EMR Stimulus Incentive, which provides incentive payments to eligible professionals who demonstrate meaningful use of health IT resources.

EMR EHR Software: The Differences Between Them

The electronic medical record (EMR) is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. It contains medical and treatment history of a patient within a practice. Because they’re electronic rather than on paper, they allow clinicians to track data easily, identify who is due for screenings and checkups, monitor patient parameters, and in general, improve care quality within a chiropractic clinic.

Electronic health records (EHRs) encompass medical records of a patient across all providers. EHRs are made to easily and efficiently share information among authorized healthcare providers for better coordination of patient care. An EHR is attached to a patient, wherever he or she goes, while the EMR is attached to a medical practice. The information from a patient’s EMR that is also included in his or her EHR goes with the patient regardless of relocation, switching providers, or moving into a care facility, for example.

Why Chiropractors Need Specialized Software

Billing for the chiropractor’s office is different from billing with other types of medical clinics because chiropractic care is a highly specialized form of medical care. Chiropractic care may be sought for chronic or work-related injuries, injuries received in accidents, headaches, neck and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sports injuries, spinal injuries, and more.

Running an efficient and profitable chiropractic clinic requires proven, effective procedures for billing based on diagnoses, such as slip and fall injuries, whiplash, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and muscle sprains, whether due to personal accidents, car accidents, or injuries sustained on the job. Documentation requirements are strict in order to receive reimbursement, and the right EMR EHR software allows for accurate, fast documentation procedures.

Trying to Make General EMR EHR Software Fit Can Be Tricky

A chiropractor can use the type of EMR EHR software used by, say, an internal medicine practice, but this is far from ideal. Whereas an internal medicine clinic treats an extremely broad and varied patient population for a wide range of conditions, the chiropractic clinic generally only treats a specialized subset of those conditions. A general purpose software package may be too cumbersome and include features that don’t apply to the chiropractor’s office. In general, it is better for the chiropractor to use EMR EHR software that is specifically tailored to the unique needs of this type of practice.

A Solution Designed Expressly for the Small Chiropractic Clinic

FreeCHIRO is powerful chiropractic EMR EHR software that is ONC Certified, so it qualifies for the Medicare Chiropractic EMR Stimulus Incentive. It includes a completely integrated billing system that streamlines chiropractic billing and takes care of important practice management tasks, from the time a patient calls for an appointment until his or her account is paid in full.

Since it is HIPAA compliant and cloud hosted, FreeCHIRO is incredibly easy to start using, and best of all, the basic version is 100% free and doesn’t force your team to look at ads. The more powerful Plus and Premium Editions start at only $69 per month and include advanced features like real-time eligibility verification, text message appointment reminders, and functionality across Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux.

Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of having to choose EMR EHR software for your chiropractic clinic. With FreeCHIRO, the choice is obvious. It fits your needs now and easily scales up as your practice grows. Why not try it for yourself? Simply click here to try FreeCHIRO for free and envision the possibilities for your more efficient, responsive practice.

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